SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

8yr of substance but has a feminine head and expression. Eyes ok though beginning to show the minimal slackness of age. Good strength of topline though rather disguised by a thicker patch of hair over croup giving misleading appearance. Good depth of body. Very impressive front angulation but with a tad more than needed behind. Very positive movement in all directions. Heavy but clear markings and coat in great condition.

7yr old and a bigger build than 1. Beautiful markings. Well proportioned head, excellent eye and kind expression. Slightly straighter stifle than my preference and this gave her an impression of being overbuilt behind (this was not helped by the lay of hair on her back). Moved with good, ground covering reach.

9yr finer and slightly narrower all round than 1st and 2nd but well balanced for her size. Textbook topline with pleasing set of tail. Attractive feminine head though a tendency to a little more jowl than needed. Attractive markings with clear white areas. Giving a bit on front pastern while standing but moved with absolutely parallel gait and a credit to her fitness.

6 month with great promise, being well balanced and correctly proportioned for her age. Excellent reach of neck running smoothly into reasonable topline. Very impressive bone with chunky feet of good depth. Attractive head with good skull to muzzle ratio. Moved easily, if a little downhill, in all directions. Very long tail suggests a lot of growth to come, which will even her up. Nothing wrong here that maturity won't put right. Very nice.

Litter sister I see and not quite as forward as 1st but could have tipped the balance between them. Super eye shape for health and expression. Better topline than 1 though slightly narrower in chest. Moved well although in playful mode which, although it did not disguise her soundness, made it hard to beat the clockwork gait of 1.

W/B 6 month. On the stand, this one was a real eyecatcher, with great balance, correct height to length ratio, perfect topline, excellent angulation and beautiful markings. Feminine head of good proportions. Adequate bone for size though slightly longer in foot than 1 and 2. Rather over-awed by her surroundings on the move and, despite being obviously sound, she adopted a slightly worried 'close to the ground' gait.

9 month sturdy type and excellent for height to length ratio. Another one whose topline was slightly disguised by an over-abundance of hair over the pelvis, when 'hands on' revealed a short strong loin and back level enough for her age. Head is feminine with appealing eye and well made muzzle not overdone with lips. Head proportions good with correct ratio of length from well developed occiput to stop and on to front of muzzle. Back skull still to develop as is natural at this age. Could have a fraction more length of upper arm to give her a tad more length of stride in front.

Well grown 10 month black who looked like she would be my winner at first. A balanced head that was feminine despite her substantial appearance. Perfect shape of muzzle, eyerims showing a little looseness. Very impressive bone and large well shaped, deep feet. Profile movement was excellent with good length of stride and plenty of drive from the rear. Going away, she was a little untidy in stride and could have been slightly more together coming to. A lot could change at this age.

14 month old black. Rare to see such quality and finish in a young bitch. Just took my breath away to see her gaiting around the ring with such balance combined with good length of stride, well held topline, and natural head carriage on a loose lead. Wanted to pace until her handler moved at the speed to suit such a long striding dog, when she clicked into an easy, flowing action. Loved her depth of chest, excellent bone, matching angulation front and rear and in such beautiful coat. Head had good strength of skull and depth of muzzle but still feminine, ear set enhanced the whole picture (though ears could have been very slightly smaller!). Would only change two things about her – 1. would prefer a slightly better eye shape and 2. that she was mine! Still looking as impressive at the end of the day and really could not be denied the CC. I hope it will be the first of many. CC and BIS (on Refereee’s decision).

12 months. And how unlucky to come up against 1st. Very eyecatching with attractive head, well set (slightly large) ears, eyerims a tad loose at this age. Excellent reach of neck which told a tale about her good shoulder assembly. Well muscled, level topline with ideal shape of croup. Well balanced for depth of chest to height ratio. Height to length ratio was also spot on at a time when the breed tends to have too much body length. Balanced hind and front angulation gave her sensible profile movement despite her slightly playful attitude. Would like to see a slightly better shaped and deeper foot to balance her.

14 month W/B who was rather raw and not in full coat but what she lacked in finish, she made up for in movement in profile, coming and going with excellent placement of feet with no exaggerations. Well proportioned head with healthy dark eye with good expression despite an unpigmented third eyelid. Her bone is far heavier than it appears as lack of coat creates an optical illusion. Perhaps a touch more hind angulation would benefit her, but with coat and maturity, this one may undergo quite a transformation.

See 2nd in Junior Bitch.

18 months substantial black with attractive head and good skull to muzzle ratio though still to finish in development of back skull. Dentition, although not faulty, could have been a little neater. Great strength of bone, well ribbed up and short in loin. Still has the slightly leggier impression that befits her age. Powerful mover, covering plenty of ground and her slightly sloping croup running into a 'happy tail'. Thick, plush coat giving the ideal waterproof covering for this well muscled girl.

See 1st in Puppy Bitch.

2½yrs Brown. Good substance and a power packed appearance can make this one look slightly short in neck and heavy in body, but her dense coat is the only culprit. Well put together with correct length of body, matching angulation front and rear, and so impressive in loin to rib ratio. Short square muzzle and acceptable eye colour along with well developed skull ticked most of the boxes for type. Tail carried just right on the move. Good depth of foot and ideal slope of pastern for shock absorption. A bit more finish could see this one in the top flight.

See 1st in Puppy Bitch

18 month black presented in first class condition. Slightly rangy at the moment but obviously has more development to come. Moved so easily in profile with great drive and matching reach of stride though a tad untidy coming and going today. Flat, water resistant coat of correct texture. Feminine head with lovely expression though a shade more lip than needed for her head size.

Another classy brown who is also an excellent example of her breed regardless of colour. Such an honest type – what you see is what you get. Head of good strength without being masculine, strong through the body and rib, sturdy bone and super topline. Sensible angulation gave her excellent movement in profile and away though to be hypercritical, had a hint of excess width coming to. Certainly enough quality to gain her title.

Lovely 2yr black with gorgeous head type, darkest eye of good shape and correct for amount of lip. Plenty of bone and so impressive in rib – for spring and length of ribbing giving plenty of lung/heart room but correctly tapered for ease of movement. Good angle of croup and set of tail. Coat in excellent condition with good depth of protective hair. Still not finished and a somewhat marked 'tuck up' exacerbated her hind angulation/length of second thing which created a visual imbalance to the overall picture. On the move, she powered along showing strength and soundness going away, though can slightly over-use her hindquarters at times. A high quality girl who has her best to come when mature.

22 month brown who is slightly longer cast than 1 and 2. Attractive head type with typical eye colour, correct amount of stop and good ratio of skull to muzzle. Squarish muzzle with a tendency to a fraction more lip than ideal. Coat presented in lovely condition although not in full coat which creates an illusion of being narrower through rib. Moved well in profile with equal strides front and rear, well held topline and good tail carriage, and powerful drive going away. Slightly narrower coming to but true and parallel nonetheless.

Very impressed with this 2yr black – an honest type who looked equally the part when standing naturally, stacked or on the move – no clever moves required by the handler to enhance her. Feminine head striking just the right balance with squarish muzzle, correct stop, well developed skull and correct ear set. Dark brown eyes with healthy rims although possibly eye a tad more proud than ideal. Just loved her movement in profile on a loose lead with well held topline and no exaggerated wasted movement – feet placed well under her and smooth, easy progress. Going away she maintained her impressive gait with just the right amount of width between limbs. Coming to, a slightly extra wide motion of one elbow tended to distract my eye, but so impressive in other ways.

3 yr brown in absolute 'showroom condition' in terms of presentation. Slightly narrower through rib than 1 but generally well balanced. Attractive head with bright, attentive expression, best ear set and eyerims well fitting. In a playful mood today and would not settle, her best attempt being movement that was a little too fast and short stepping to comply with the 'strength and great activity' asked for in the Standard. Just wish she had settled as she can do better.

3 yr W/B completely out of coat today but has nothing that needs to be hidden by hair! Very pleasing head with good eye. Level topline and an easy mover with no exaggerations at all. Just needs to grow her coat back as this creates all sorts of optical illusions when standing next to full coated dogs.

22 month black with beautiful headpiece and the expression that sums up the ideal Newf temperament. Excellent topline and moderate depth of chest for her relative youth. Super reach of neck blending well into shoulder though a tad more length of upper arm would be ideal. Bone just right for her size and good, well shaped feet of adequate depth. Moved so easily in all directions and thought she would figure highly in the challenge but would just prefer a tad less length of body for ideal balance. Presentation of the highest order.

4yr black who at first glance looked like she would win this class with her good depth of chest, ideal length to height ratio and breathtaking profile movement. Attractive head and eye, well boned, well shaped feet and matching angulation front and rear. Close decision but today she was slightly less tidy coming and going while 1st was totally coordinated in all directions.

Taller black who was out of coat today. Head of good proportions and with well developed skull. Good eye colour though a minor give in eyerims. Best of toplines with muscular condition telling a tale of correct exercise and conditioning. Deep through chest and sensible angulation giving her the necessary balance for the breed. Croup a tad flatter than some but nevertheless had a good tail carriage. Moved well in profile and going away but lack of coat gave an impression of slight narrowness in front.

See 1st in Limit Bitch

4 yr mature girl with great strength of body, excellent depth, impressive bone, correct angulation and super for type. Her thick waterproof coat can give an impression of too much body but underneath she is well muscled and an ideal weight. A power-packed build with sound movement and really fit for purpose. The overall impression is of not quite enough length of leg to balance the great strength of her upper body.

Handler was unaware that she had to stay and left the ring before I could write a critique. However, her movement was sound in all directions, although, standing she had a slight give in topline today.

See 1st in Post Graduate Bitch.

See 2nd in Limit Bitch.

See 1st in Graduate Bitch.

Rising 4 years and surely at her best just now. Beautiful girl with clear markings. An example of 'look and learn' to us breeders who want to achieve correct height to length ratio, useful loin and true head carriage on the move. Correctly proportioned head (especially in profile), good length of neck flowing into well made forehand and sensible angulation. Moved with effortless power on a loose lead and no hint of exaggeration. A tough decision in the Challenge but I was swayed by the bone and width of foreface of the CC winner. No shame in this placing although RCC hardly does this lovely girl justice.

At only 2yr old, this one has yet to develop and perhaps beef up in thigh and spring of rib. Nicely made head with well shaped dark eye. Topline ok though will probably strengthen a little in loin as she matures. Movement gave her the edge here.

Rising 4 and made a lovely shape with excellent topline, impressive bone, great muscular condition was a bonus and, combined with good proportions, was hard to overlook. Lovely headpiece with square muzzle and melting expression. Not quite as accurate in front movement today or would have been higher placed.